WSU law school dean likely to enter 11th District congressional race

Nov. 1, 2013

Jocelyn Benson is the dean of Wayne State University Law School.

Written by

Detroit Free Press Washington Staff

WASHINGTON — A key Democratic campaign committee is telling congressional offices that Wayne State University law school dean Jocelyn Benson will enter the growing field of candidates running for a district in metro Detroit.

Sources told the Free Press that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was making the calls saying Benson would run in Michigan’s 11th District for a seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Kerry Bentivolio, R-Milford. The campaign committee declined to confirm or deny the report, which also said an announcement could come as soon as next week.

Benson, who made a name for herself in 2010 as an ultimately unsucessful Democratic candidate for Michigan Secretary of State, did not reply to an e-mail and calls from the Free Press for comment Friday. But she told Lansing-based Inside Michigan Politics, which also reported on the calls, that she is looking at a run and “will make a decision soon.”

The Free Press reported two weeks ago that Benson was seriously considering the race and had visited with key Democratic officials in Washington — including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — and spoke to the Democratic caucus.

Bentivolio, a political newcomer who won after incumbent Rep. Thad McCotter stepped down in the midst of an investigation into fradulent re-election petition signatures, has already attracted a major opponent, lawyer David Trott, from his own party. Bobby McKenzie, a former U.S. State Department employee, also is running as a Democrat.

If Benson gets in the race, it could fuel what is already becoming the most-watched congressional campaign in the state. Three years ago as a statewide candidate, Benson collected more votes than any other Democratic candidate on the ticket.

Benson has been interim dean of the Wayne State law school since December.

Should Benson decide to formally throw her hat into the ring next week, it could come as U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland — the second-ranking Democrat in the U.S. House — is going to be traveling to Michigan and will have an event for Benson and others some time during the week, a source familiar with the event said.